Murder in Greenford

An 85 year-old woman has died after being mugged in Greenford, west London.

The victim was found collapsed on the floor with a head injury in an alleyway at 1.50pm on Monday, 19 November.

She died in hospital in the early hours of this morning.

Police are trying to trace two men who snatched the woman’s handbag, causing her to fall on to the pavement.

Statement from the Metropolitan Police at 5.02pm:

Detectives have launched a murder investigation following the death of a pensioner who was mugged and injured in west London.

Police were called at approximately 13:50hrs on Monday, 19 November, to reports of a robbery at an alleyway off Oldfield Lane South in Greenford.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and located an 85-year-old woman collapsed and conscious with a head injury.

She was initially taken to Ealing Hospital and then transferred to St Mary’s Hospital, where sadly, her condition deteriorated and she died at 02:14hrs today, Tuesday 20 November. Next of Kin have been informed but formal identification awaits.

A post mortem examination is scheduled to take place tomorrow, Wednesday 21 November at Uxbridge Mortuary.

It is understand that two male suspects, who are described as black in appearance, approached the victim from behind and stole her handbag. In the process the victim was assaulted and she fell to the pavement.

The suspects, who were dressed in dark clothing, then ran off in the direction of Farm Dale Crescent with the handbag.

Officers who are currently conducting a forensic search of the area, have since recovered the handbag on Farm Dale Crescent.

“We are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the sequence of events which will have occurred in a potentially busy area of Greenford in daylight. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the victim or the suspects at the time.”

Anyone with information is urged to call the incident room on 020 87214868 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Detectives investigating the murder of a pensioner mugged in west London have today named her and released her image.

Paula Castle, 85, of Westbridge Gardens, Greenford, died after being robbed in an alleyway off Oldfeld Lane South, Greenford.

Police were called at approximately 13:50hrs on Monday 19 November, to reports of the incident.

Officers and the London Ambulance Service attended and located a 85-year-old woman collapsed and conscious with a head injury.

Mrs Castle, a widow who lived alone, was initially taken to Ealing Hospital, then transferred to St Mary’s Hospital, where sadly, her condition deteriorated and she died at 02:14hrs on Tuesday 20 November.

A post-mortem examination is scheduled to take place from noon today (Wednesday 21 November) at Uxbridge Mortuary.

It is believed two male suspects, who are described as black in appearance, approached the victim from behind and stole her handbag. In the process the victim was assaulted and she fell to the pavement.

The suspects, who were dressed in dark clothing, then ran off in the direction of Farm Dale Crescent with the handbag.

Officers have since recovered the bag in Farm Dale Crescent.

Police continue to appeal for any witnesses to please come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Russell Taylor, of the Met’s Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: “We are keen to speak to anyone who may have seen the sequence of events which will have occurred in a potentially busy area of Greenford in daylight. We are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the victim or the suspects at the time.”

Anyone with information is urged to call the incident room on 020 87214868; or if you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

UPDATE on November 21: Two boys aged 14 and 15 have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Detectives investigating the murder of a pensioner in west London have this afternoon arrested two males in connection with the incident.

The males – [A] 15ys and [B] 14ys – are in custody and will be taken to a London police station in due course. They have been arrested on suspicion of murder and robbery, the latter count relating to a separate incident on 20 November.

"Perhaps the oddest thing about the experts and police chiefs and reporters and editors and tenured professors who constantly tell us that these black-on-white atrocities aren’t racially motivated, is that blacks don’t believe that for a second. They know that they are racially motivated, they say so, and they celebrate them for it."
- Nicholas Stix